The rise in Medium Density in Auckland

Auckland’s population will increase significantly over the next 20 to 30 years. The environmental consequences and range of costs associated with a larger and more sprawling city, support the challenge for Auckland to create opportunities for more intensive living and working environments, and accommodate growth around already established urban and suburban centres.

Recent trends and research indicate that medium density housing developments will play an integral part in the current and future development of both the urban centre and the urban periphery of the Auckland region.

As Auckland grows and develops, a range of living environments should be provided for Auckland’s diverse population needs. The Auckland Plan and Proposed Unitary Plan both identifies for the need of high-quality medium density housing developments to accommodate sustainable and affordable growth in Auckland.

To help combat Auckland’s housing crisis in the immediate, Special Housing Areas (SHAs) have been identified across the city where fast-track development of affordable housing can take place. These areas are specifically targeted towards medium density housing types such as duplexes, terraced houses, apartments and mixed use residential developments.

As the New Zealand housing market evolves and many metropolitan areas look to intensify housing, it is important to ensure that manufacturers deliver solutions and products capable of facilitating changing typologies. As a market leader James Hardie recognise this growing need.

To find out more on how James Hardie can provide intelligent solutions to your medium density projects do not hesitate to contact our in house medium density specialist, Hasith Gamage on 027 703 7318 or hasith.gamage@jameshardie.co.nz.

1 Comment

ingoratsdorf
on November 21, 2014 at 10:25 am

So let me ask the question again: WHY are we intensifying? So people live in intensified living quarters, to move over intensified motorways into the intensified city centers for work…
Meanwhile Auckland Transport is suggesting to decrease the bus frequencies out West where some of the intensified housing areas are, pushing more cars over the motorways.
Because our living areas are so intensified, we have to shop for our fruit and vegetables in intensified supermarkets on the way to or from work.
Trouble is that much development is happening on the once arable land around the city and the food has to be trucked in from further away. Water tanks disappearing for town water supply that has to be pumped in and sewage that has to be pumped out. There is less option and space for local energy generation and food growing.
Are we really designing with the future in mind?
Are we really envisaging that we can continue to travel to work every morning for an hour?
Why are we heating our houses just to leave for work to heat and cool our workplace to leave it again and go home to heat the home again?
Has anybody considered that telecommuting may increase? Has anybody considered that when people move to more sustainable transport options (not diesel buses but electric cars) that the emissions will be vanishing and the only limiting factor will be congestion that is less likely to happen with the before mentioned telecommuting?
All of a sudden we would not need city rail links any more or wide motorways that are built for peaktime traffic. It’s also an opportunity to redefine what Auckland is and how Auckland “city” looks like. Why not having Westgate city and Henderson city and Papakura city, …
Why do we all have to go downtown to work every morning?